USA Orders 'Common Law' to Series

Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for NAACP Image Awards

Michael Ealy

USA Network has given a series order to Common Law.

Eleven episodes of the buddy cop series will be produced for its freshman season, in addition to the already-shot pilot. Production begins in New Orleans, La. next month. A premiere date has not been officially set for the hourlong.

Common Law follows partners Travis Marks (Michael Ealy) and Wes Mitchell (Warren Kole), cops on the Los Angeles Police Department’s homicide team who have issues with each other. In an effort to resolve their conflicts, their captain (Jack McGee) sends Wes, a former lawyer with a passion for cars, gardening and his ex-wife, and Travis, a ladies’ man who once served time in juvenile hall, to couples counseling.

The series comes from CBS Television Studios and Junction Entertainment. Cormac and Marianne Wibberley (National Treasure) serve as executive producers, along with Jon Turteltaub (Jericho) and Craig Sweeny (Medium). Junction’s Dan Shotz (Harper's Island) and Karim Zreik (Harper's Island) serve as co-executive producers. Turteltaub directed the pilot.

“When CBS Television Studios sent us the script of Common Law, we immediately fell in love with the writing, the characters and the premise,” said USA co-presidents Jeff Wachtel and Chris McCumber in a release. “We're very lucky to have the Wibberleys, Jon and Craig guiding the process on this show; and with Michael and Warren, we have two stars who bring out the best in each other.”

Currently, USA’s summer slate includes Burn Notice, Covert Affairs, In Plain Sight, Necessary Roughness, Royal Pains, Suits, White Collar, with Psych set for a fall return and Fairly Legal eyed for a 2012 second season premiere. Law & Order: Criminal Intent recently ended its final season.

Email: philiana.ng@thr.com